In the midst of high-tech companies in Silicon Valley in Northern California laying off employees due to the impact of artificial intelligence, the Los Angeles area in Southern California is facing a thirst for skilled construction workers following a devastating fire last year. Currently, both federal and state governments are providing funding to meet the training needs for construction market.
According to the Labor Market Research by the Center of Excellence at the Los Angeles Community College District, the region needs over 109,000 construction and related industry skilled workers. This includes 27,569 maintenance and repair workers; 12,763 technical personnel such as supervisors and construction managers; over 10,000 electricians; nearly 8,500 carpenters; more than 6,000 installation and maintenance workers in other categories; and demands exceeding 4,000 for engineering machine technicians, HVAC and refrigeration installation technicians. Some skilled worker employment demands have increased by more than double compared to before the fire.
The construction industry in California has long been facing a significant shortage in labor, and the two wildfires have exacerbated the crisis. Currently, the available skilled workforce in the market is only 4,187, leaving a gap of nearly 105,000 workers. The study also noted that entry-level wages in the industry are $22.57 per hour, mid-level at $29.03, and skilled workers can earn up to $37.45 per hour.
California community colleges are now utilizing special funding provided by the state government to train more workers to meet the post-disaster reconstruction needs. The community college training programs typically last four semesters. Pasadena City College, not far from the Eaton fire area last year, is constructing a 55,000-square-foot Construction Trades Training Center where students can learn various trades such as carpentry, mechanics, electrical work, plumbing, drafting, ceramics, and more.
Governor Newsom of California announced last Thursday (9th) a commitment of $37.2 million to expand the state’s apprenticeship and workforce training system to provide Californians with opportunities to learn new skills and enter the workforce. In support of the governor’s initiative, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) will allocate over $46 million for recruiting workers in the construction industry and apprenticeship training.
The U.S. Department of Labor also announced in February to provide $65 million in grants to fund high-quality training projects urgently needed by community colleges. The “Build Back Better Act” also authorizes the establishment of Workforce Pell Grants to provide federal financial aid to students participating in these training programs.
The labor shortage in the construction industry is not unique to California but a prominent issue across the entire U.S. Angelo Farooq, chair of the California Labor Commissioner and chair of the National Association of State Labor Commissioners, pointed out in an article in the Los Angeles Times at the end of last year that the U.S. construction industry will need to add about 723,000 workers annually by 2028 to meet the demand for housing construction.
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) report last year, the average salary for residential construction work in the US increased by over 9% in 2025, indicating a strong demand for construction workers. Farooq emphasized that there are significant opportunities for anyone willing to learn the skills in the construction industry.
In California, the median annual salary for skilled workers in construction apprenticeship training exceeds $70,000.
According to the California Department of Industrial Relations website, there are hundreds of businesses in California offering apprentice training in various fields including construction workers, carpenters, automotive technicians, residential electricians, HVAC technicians, as well as restaurant managers, registered nurses, plumbers, pharmacy technicians, medical assistants, beauticians, and more.
In California, registered apprentices can earn wages while learning on the job. According to DIA records, the basic hourly wages for on-the-job carpentry apprentices in the Los Angeles area range from $21.97 to $47, and some even receive health benefits and paid leave.
If apprentices are veterans, in addition to wages paid by the employer, they can also receive wage supplements provided by the Montgomery GI Bill for certain period, raising their salary to the level of skilled workers.